A promotional email was sent on Friday, containing two photos of Adams outside the wake, which took place on Thursday. Valentino said in a statement that quickly followed that the company had not realised where the photographs had been taken.

Adams co-starred with Hoffman, 46, in The Master. His wake and funeral the next day were attended by numerous celebrities.

A statement signed by Mona Swanson, vice-president of communications for Valentino USA, read: “We sincerely regret releasing a photo to the media … of Amy Adams with a Valentino Bag. We were not aware the photograph was taken while she was attending the wake of Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was an innocent mistake and we apologise to Ms Adams who was not aware, or a part of, our PR efforts.”

The New York Post used pictures of Adams on its front page on Saturday, with the headline “DEAD CARPET”, after putting up the gaffe online and apparently prompting the apology.

The Daily News included the image of Adams with the red, $2,500 bag in a two-page spread inside the paper.